Cool, let's get rid of the people who have the experience and actually know what the hell they're talking about. That will really improve the quality of the forum that everyone complains doesn't have "real" discussions anymore.

That's a GREAT idea!

-Sam

Class I railroads are far from the only employers who track the online activity of their employees. The forum might lose many more participants over this.

And this is to say nothing of those with a difficult past they wish to escape or forget.


As was previously noted, a large portion of the bad behaviour here seems to come from posters whose real names are common knowledge. And other platforms where most participants use their real names (Facebook, Twitter) are far worse cesspools than RYPN has ever been.

As somebody who runs several online forums, let me ask you this...
If you require real names, how would you propose to "vet" them.

Somebody named "Steve Lee" signs up. How do you verify that's his name? Ask for ID? Credit card? Photos? Facebook asks for state issued ID as well as a selfie when they do an ID verification, for example if your account is hacked.

Another issue, lets say you do verify his info. How do you confirm he's "that" Steve Lee? Pretty sure there's more than one. I once installed a railroad track for a guy named Bill Gates in Seattle. No, not that one. Yes, he made a joke about it and I felt sorry for him. Speaking jokes, I've also done work for somebody who had a famous comedian's name, can't recall which one.

Given that the mods here do this for free, it seems inappropriate to add to their burden. Simply take posts at face value, and if you can't verify the source, then act accordingly.

Sincerely, Abraham Lincoln.

That's the moderator's call. If a snarky comment is made, they can choose to delete it. It doesn't matter what name is attached to the account. The content speaks for itself. If it should be gone, it should be gone no matter who signs it.

Sometimes though the nasty and snarky posts come from folks who DO use their real names. It ain't a perfect system either way.

It seems to me that there are continuously repeat offenders, who really add nothing to most topics, just bitch about other people or how the way things are.

Like, I’m sorry. I joined this forum to learn more and add to the conversation where I saw fit. My area of expertise is some pre emission and tier 0 diesel locomotives. I know a limited amount of steam. I’ve asked questions and I thank those who replied, but mostly I was ignored. Or people assumed I was someone I am not. So be it.

This forum seems to have had better days. When the “gods” of the website weren’t allowed to roam free and say whatever they care to. IMHO as soon as anything turns to character bashing, no matter what the context, it should be locked and throw out. But it’s not. Many a person are allowed to say whatever they want, because they are in with the admins. It doesn’t matter if you publish your name or not.

Again, I know the admins are not paid, and I know they have a lot on their plate as is. But we need consistency in order for this forum to have any sort of respect.

Hmm, ...

Well, once upon a time, I asked a friend of mine to post for me from time to time under another name. He created a alias and went to town.

I eventually asked him to let me have the option to edit posts from time to time. I liked the arrangement. I would have been very happy to have left that arrangement in place ...

That is, ...

Until I was sitting in a legal deposition once and was asked, under oath, about comments that my associate posted in the Railroad.net forum on my behalf. It was a decidedly awkward situation for sure.

If you think your comments posted here might not bite you in the ass at some point in the future, you might be very unpleasantly surprised. ...

From the time of that deposition, I have proudly become one of those obnoxious posters who post under my real name in order to protect the innocent friends who were simply trying to come to my defense in the Court of Public Opinion. ...

Sad, but true.....

I’d be curious to know more on this story. I guess if you’re purposefully knocking others down that could be one reason to get called into court. Now like I said, I didn’t join this forum for that. I joined to learn more and have discussions. But in the few months I’ve been here the topics that have gotten attention are the ones that put others on blast. I know I’m also to blame because I have commented on such posts (mainly to try to get people to stop, which only made people think I was someone I am not). I wish my thread on Back to the Basics would have blown up. I have a feeling the “gods” of this website could have added a lot. But they didn’t because they just wanna spread drama.

I am on my way out, I haven’t left yet because for some reason I still hold out hope that maybe a good topic will come up. I thought the donation of UP equipment would have been a good discussion on the practicality of a organization like that being able to maintain everything, but it simply turned into a new era UP Steam Crew Vs Old Era UP Steam Crew pissing match.

The “gods”’of this website have their friends and they will stop at nothing to protect those people. Newcomers aren’t welcome. People with differing views aren’t welcome (you’ll just be called by names that aren’t yours).

So I’ll ask you all this: what’s the point of joining this forum? To me it looks like those past their prime to talk about “the good ole days” and so they have a exclusive club to talk down on others.

-prove me wrong.

No matter what is done some people are going to be upset. If I moderate the forum to please the "free speech" people then others are upset that I am allowing personal attacks and such. If I moderate those posts out, then the "free speech" people complain that I am picking favorites.

Many of you have this impression that it is just RYPN that is "going downhill". RYPN is just a reflection of the general degradation of society overall. We are rare in that we have been here for so long that we can see how things have devolved. It is funny that this forum is criticized yet no mention is made of the influences that social media has had in creating this environment where insults and nasty language are accepted and actually expected online. People are learning this behavior from somewhere, and it isn't from RYPN.

You keep stating that newcomers are not welcome, yet I see no evidence of that here. You have participated in several discussions and have been treated as one of us. Perhaps you expect to not be welcomed and therefore see it everywhere you go? Self fulfilling prophecy perhaps?

You said that people with differing views aren't welcome. Well welcome to 2022! Have you been out in the real world lately? Seems that nobody is welcoming of differing views anymore. Go to a college campus sometime and say that you believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman and see how much that differing view is welcomed! Nobody is going to give up what they believe in favor of your views unless you can defend and persuade others over to your side. This is how speech has worked ever since language was developed. Make your point and expect to defend it.

I have said it before and will say it again. You can choose which threads to participate in. If you don't like where a thread is going, just close it out and move on. These threads go south because people want them to. I just looked at the first page of posts and there are several good topics to read about. Occasionally there will be a controversial topic that the pontificators will engage in, surrounded by several "nuts and bolts" threads that talk about dry preservation and history related questions. I have never understood why the very existence of a controversial thread diminishes the nuts and bolts threads that surrounds it?

You are free to leave if you would like to, but you should not do so under misconceptions. You have been and continue to be welcomed here.

well said Rick. Perhaps an "Ignore member" feature could be added here like on other forums?

Yes because being called John Rimmasch is so welcoming. People are quick to expect you to be “the bad guy” when you don’t line up with their opinions. Like the UP thread where the guy who is supposedly Steve Lee was called out and instantly bashed. That’s a huge turn off.

Differing opinions is fine. But when you’re shut down and out and called names like John Rimmasch, that’s just not nice. That’s my big quarrel with this forum. Basically as soon as I started having other opinions, boom I must be that Rimmasch guy that everyone hates now.

An ignore user button is an idea. But the loudest people on this forum, I feel like, have some good knowledge. I just wish they would spread some of their true knowledge, instead of being loud and annoying about their opinions and entitlement.

I agree that civility is in severe decline and having a differing opinion can often make you an enemy. In a less extreme sense, it always been that way but is definitely much worse now than ever. Over the years, I’ve purposely grown a thick skin so unwarranted negativity tossed my way doesn’t bother me much at all. I figure that if you don’t invest the effort to get to know me as I would for you so we understand where each is coming from, then it becomes my prerogative to ignore you (that’s a collective you, not anyone in particular). That makes for much less stress in interpersonal relationships. But, I’ll always treat you with civility.

That said, it doesn’t bother me that some users prefer to participate behind a user name as long as it isn’t used primarily to gleefully troll others anonymously. That’s just bad form no matter how you try to justify it. The golden rule really should apply. And I understand that some employers definitely do pay attention to social media watching for anything that might be taken as disparaging to the company. So, no biggie for me.

I will not be using my full name here, but I'm ok with the amount I'm showing off now.

Click the user profile you wish to ignore and click Foe.

Thereafter "Foe" posts will appear as “This post was made by [foe user name] who is currently on your ignore list. Display this post.

You can always read the foe post by clicking the display option. Reading a foe post will not change the user status.

I find this feature to be very helpful for my RyPN mental health.(roll eyes)

Wesley